HOUSTON – Feb. 26, 2025 – Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP continues to expand its Sports Law Practice with the addition of Brian Michael Cooper as of counsel in the Houston and Denver offices. The multidisciplinary Sports Law team is known for their work in key industry sectors such as stadium and arena development, sports law, esports, and media and broadcasting, and this addition is part of the firm’s overall strategy to continue providing counsel on significant matters in this area.
“The dedication and experience of our sports law attorneys has positioned our firm as one of the strongest stadium and arena practices in the United States. The team plays a pivotal role in advising major projects, including but not limited to the Moody Center, the Tennessee Titans' new stadium, the Charlotte Hornets’ practice and training arena, and the landmark $1.5 billion Buffalo Bills Stadium deal,” said Richard A. Rosenbaum, Executive Chairman of Greenberg Traurig. “The caliber of our attorneys coupled with the unwavering trust of clients, allows us to lead the market in ground-breaking, high-value projects and transactions.”
With over 25 years in the sports sector, Cooper’s experience includes advising on player, coach, and executive contracts, athlete endorsements, naming rights, sponsorships, apparel licensing, ticketing arrangements, facility leases, content distribution, and media rights. His work extends to professional leagues, teams, and collegiate athletics.
“Brian is an exceptional addition to the Greenberg Traurig Houston team, and we are excited to welcome him to the firm,” said Franklin D.R. Jones Jr., co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Sports Business Industry Group. “Brian brings with him a deep understanding of the sports industry, both from a legal perspective and as a former executive, strengthening the practice as we continue to provide value to our clients.”
Cooper has held executive positions in professional sports, including serving as president and chief operating officer of the American Flag Football League, where he oversaw league operations, ticket sales, marketing, media relations, and corporate partnerships. As president of the Houston Roughnecks in the XFL, he managed business operations including ticketing, marketing, and gameday operations. Cooper also served as president of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League, where he established a single affiliation with the NBA Houston Rockets. Cooper also previously worked as director of sports programming at Dish Network, managing relationships with professional sports leagues, college conferences, and regional sports networks. He also served as senior associate athletic director at Rice University, overseeing financial operations and administrative matters for the athletics department.
“Greenberg Traurig's renowned reputation for excellence, along with the opportunity to work alongside attorneys that I have long admired, were instrumental factors in my decision to join the firm. I look forward to expanding my practice and client offerings, while continuing to grow with the firm’s recognized Sports Law Practice,” Cooper said.
Cooper also practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, media law, and antitrust. He represents clients across various industries, including sports, media, logistics, health care, transportation, technology, finance, and energy.
Cooper’s experience advising on private equity transactions in sports will add to the firm’s existing capabilities in this sector, and follows Greenberg Traurig’s role on recent transactions including representing an investor group in their minority investment in NFL's Buffalo Bills, and on Velocity Capital Management’s acquisition of Parella Motorsports Holdings. Cooper’s addition to the team comes at a time of renewed focus on private equity investment in sports, with the NFL announcing changes to ownership policies in 2024 which allowed the private equity industry to invest in NFL teams for the first time.
Greenberg Traurig’s global Sports Practice has continued to strengthen in recent years, buoyed by strategic additions in the firm’s Middle East, Denver, and Chicago offices. Additionally, the firm’s three offices in Texas have recently added strategically chosen attorneys in core areas, including Shareholders Jera L. Bradshaw in Banking & Financial Services, Can Cui in Life Sciences & Medical Technology, Gemma Descoteaux in Corporate, Rob LeBlanc in Intellectual Property & Technology, Kurt Lyn in Corporate, Ashley N. Moore in Intellectual Property & Technology, and Drew Slone in Public Finance & Infrastructure. Additional growth is expected shortly across the state.
About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2750 attorneys in 49 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2024 BTI “Leading Edge Law Firm” for delivering on client expectations for the future and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 500. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e® Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: www.gtlaw.com.